Cleveland Indians - The Reagan Years (1980-1989)  
   
 

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        Yr P W L   Yr P W L   Yr P W L               1980  
        1980 6 79 81   1983 7 70 92   1987 7 61 101               Decade  
        1981 x 52 51   1984 6 75 87   1988 6 78 84               Click  
        1982 7 78 84   1985 7 60 102   1989 6 73 89               on Logo  
                  1986 5 84 78                            
                                                       
   
  Titles: None Top Indians Players of the Eighties  
     
  BallPark: Municipal Stadium Pitchers:  
    Len Barker (10.09) -   34  
  Team Name: Indians Bert Blyleven (20.19) -   34  
    Tom Candiotti (16.21) -   31  
  Owner:  Dan Spillner (6.19) -   24  
  Steve O'Neill (1980-1983) Doug Jones (7.95) -   23  
  Estate of Steve O'Neill (1983-1986) Rick Sutcliffe (8.66) -   22  
  Richard E Jacobs (1986-1989) Neal Heaton (3.27) -   21  
    Greg Swindell (11.56) -   20  
  General Managers: Larry Sorensen (2.82) -   13  
  Phil Seghi (1980-1985) John Farrell (8.11) -   13  
  Gabe Paul (President 1978 - 1984) John Denny (5.75) -   12  
  Joe Klein (1985 - 1987) Phil Niekro (1.39) -   10  
  Hank Peters (1987-1989) Bud Black (4.15) -   8  
        
  Managers: Catchers:  
  Dave Garcia (1980-1982) Ron Hassey (7.62) -   27  
  Mike Ferraro (1983) Andy Allanson (1.09) -   12  
  Pat Corrales (1983-1987) Jerry Willard (2.27) -   10  
  Doc Edwards (1988-1989)    
  John Hart (1989) First Basemen:  
    Mike Hargrove (11.11) -   35  
  No Hitters:  Andre Thornton (6.68) -   30  
   Len Barker (1981 Perfect Game)    
    Second Basemen:  
  Hall of Famers: Julio Franco (13.79) -   48  
  Phil Niekro Pat Tabler (7.4) -   25  
  Bert Blyleven Tony Bernazard (3.77) -   15  
    Jorge Orta (2.66) -    11  
  Rookie of the Year:     
  Joe Charboneau (1980) ShortStop:  
    Toby Harrah (15.27) -   24  
  MVP Alan Bannister (2.73) -   16  
  None    
    Third Base:  
  Cy Young Brook Jacoby (12.17) -   25  
  None Von Hayes (3.46) -   10  
       
  Notable Events: Outfield:  
    Joe Carter (14.42) -   48  
  1980 - Decade three of the Cleveland Dark Period (six above .500 seasons in a Brett Butler (17.19) -   44  
  thrity four year stretch).  The procession of owners continue to operate on a shoestring. Cory Snyder (3.38) -   24  
  The decade is marked by dealiing stud pitchers for young position players in an  Miguel Dilone (2.26) -   23  
  attempt to make up for a failing farm systerm. The Indians had decent GMs during the Rick Manning (3.06) -   21  
  decade, but little support for them due to limited finances. Mel Hall (2.85) -   17  
    Joe Charboneau (1.54) -   8  
  1980 - Twenty five year old outfielder Joltin' Joe Charboneau is Rookie of the Year.    
  Charboneau adds some much needed excitement to a moribund franchise. As  Notable Events:  
  luck would have it, for Cleveland, Charboneau's success is a mirage.    
    1984 - Intimidating six foot seven righthander Rick Sutcliffe, 28, is dealt  
  1981 - Len Barker pitches a perfect game versus Toronto in 1981. When he was  to the Cubs in a blockbuster deal. Sutcliffe had been pilfered by  
  on, Barker was close to unhittable, but he never had the command to be a truly  Cleveland two years earlier from the Dodgers who had grown tired of  
  consistent winner. Barker would be dealt away to the Braves in 1984 for two   waiting for him to master his command. The Indians, who have their  
  excellent young players in centerfielder Brett Butler, 27, and third baseman Brook   usual dearth of prospects, get two excellent young players from   
  Jacoby, 24.   the pennant contending Cubs, outfielders Joe Carter, 24, and Mel  
     Hall, 23. Carter develops into a stud, one of the top players in the  
  1981 -  A Strike interrupts the season in which the Indians finish above .500 at 52-51  game and remains the heart of the Cleveland lineup thru the end   
    of the decade.   
  1981 - Third baseman Von Hayes comes up as a twenty two year old rookie. He   
  is a quality prospect which means, in Cleveland during this era, he must be traded. 1986 - Richard E Jacobs buys the club. Jacobs is actually willing to    
  The trade happens after the 1982 season when Hayes goes to the Phillies for five spend to build a valuable franchise. What a concept!  
  players. The idea is to stock a depleted franchise with at least competent bodies. It    
  turns out that Cleveland gets a guy who is as good as Hayes in twenty four year 1986  - The Indians have a winning season going 84-78   
  old second baseman Julio Franco as one of the five. Hayes had been a seventh     
  round draft pick of the Indians in the 1979 draft. 1987 - Jacobs hires Hank Peters as GM. Peters had been a major    
    factor in building the Baltimore dynasty and is absolutely top notch.   
   1984 - In a what could they possibly have been thinking moment, Cleveland Jacobs isn't fooling around with this hire. He wants to win.  
    leaves 3B Kelly Gruber, 22, unprotected and he is picked up by Toronto    
    in the Rule 5 draft. Gruber had been the 10th overall pick in the 1980 1987 - Cleveland loses heavily throughout the remainder of the decade  
   amateur draft by the Indians.  proving that their winning season in '86 was a mirage. However,  
    the structure has begun being laid to turn that all around.